JEKYLL ISLAND, January 13, 2012 – The Jekyll Island Authority will begin selective vista clearing along the Jekyll Island – Downing Musgrove Causeway. Clearing will be performed as outlined in the Jekyll Causeway Vegetation Management Plan that was developed in 2009 and adopted as a component of the Jekyll Island Conservation Plan approved in 2011. The Jekyll Causeway Vegetation Management Plan is a product of a committee that included representatives from conservation and transportation groups and several citizen experts on ecology and birding. Separate approvals and permits have been received from all responsible agencies. These include approval from Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GaDNR) Coastal Resource Division, GADNR Environmental Protection Division, Georgia Department of Transportation’s district office in Jesup and main office in Atlanta.

Jekyll Island Authority staff will carry out 2.5 miles of selective clearings on both sides of the causeway. Clearing will be performed with a boom-mounted machete machine as well as by hand. Permits also allow for the clean-up of any dead or fallen debris in locations outside the defined selective clearing areas. The work will be conducted over several weeks and will conclude prior to songbird nesting season and diamondback terrapin nesting season. Clearing work also avoids the bird nesting areas on Latham’s Hammock.

The goal of the Jekyll Causeway Vegetation Management Plan is to promote diversity of habitat and restore vistas along the most scenic areas. Selective clearing will be performed on a five-year cycle to allow plant maturation and to create a diversity of successional growth. Work will be conducted under the supervision of Cliff Gawron, Jekyll Island Authority Director of Landscape and Planning.

The public should use caution when passing work crews and please observe posted speed limits. Please watch for work trucks entering and exiting the causeway from the road shoulder. Please keep a safe distance from other vehicles and be aware of possible distracted drivers.